a
story by
Michael Fels
> bio
Redwood Radio
Jeannie
Thimble was conceived in the deep shade of a native California Black
Oak during the first, great, San
Francisco Love-In. The hippie
couple, who would, in nine months, be changing her diapers and making
sure that she’d receive her immunizations, eventually matured
into conservative pillars of Danville, a bedroom community in the hills
east of Oakland. Jeannie grew up to believe in the magic of her parent's
wacky, dope-fueled romance and tried to figure out why such luck had
so far escaped her.
Once, not long after she quit her job as a loan officer with the Contra
Costa County Employees’ Federal Credit Union and moved to the
sleepy, north-coast town of Mendonoma to live with her brother, Jake
and his wife, Bess, she almost believed that things had changed. She
loved Jason; an Evergreen College, Liberal Arts grad turned rural welder.
He was tall and strong and strikingly handsome. She liked to tell her
friends that he reminded her of a white-tailed stag. He lived and worked
in a converted, red school bus that squatted exhausted and tireless
in a hot, weedy meadow on a ridge above town. Jeannie tried her best
to entice him into a relationship, but nothing more than friendship
came of it. Finally, she gave up, telling Bess that, “I guess
the only torch Jason carries runs on butane.”
It took her a long time to recover from his rejection. Jason had been
the first man she’d really loved and, in unguarded moments as
her 30th birthday approached, the magnitude of her loss washed over
her like a cold, salty wave.
But despite her sadness, Jeannie wasn’t lonely. She and Bess
had been best friends in college. In fact, it was Jeannie who’d
introduced Bess to Jake when the two girls were juniors at Cal State
Hayward and Jake was a senior. Now, Jake and Bess enjoyed her company
and appreciated the love and care she provided to their two young boys.
Monday through Friday, Jeannie left the house at seven in the morning
for her job at the Giggling Acorn pre-school. Her shift was from eight
to four. By five she’d be back at the house, fixing dinner for
Jake and Bess and the boys. By seven, she was finished with evening
chores. In the summer, while the light held, she would go for long
walks along the public access beach. In the winter, she would either
withdraw to her room to read or she’d join the family in the
living room to watch TV that they pulled down from the satellite with
their dish.
On weekends, she might visit one of the other teachers from the preschool
or perhaps a friend from the community theater company that she’d
joined and that revived itself every spring to stage a play on the
sloping lawn of the Mendonoma Hotel during long summer evenings. This
year, they were doing Wilder's, "The Skin of Our Teeth." She
loved the play and its message of hope…that somehow, things would
work out.
It became known as "the world's only radio station broadcasting
from inside a living tree!" It was true. In the 1950's, Bud and
Ora Pringle, the family on whose land the tree stood made a playhouse
out of one of the few old-growth redwoods that had escaped the plunder
of the coastal forests. The tree’d been hit by lightning some
time in the ancient past and a large section near the base remained
blackened by the strike. They’d consulted an arborist who advised
them that, if done carefully, the tree could be hollowed-out starting
with the point of impact. The tree survived the surgery and continued
to grow.
In the 1980's, the Pringle’s moved to Coeur d’Alene and
sold the big old house to Henry and Gail Henderson who ran a "mom
and pop" bookkeeping firm that wanted a home-office combination.
The Henderson’s in-turn rented space to KZBR, a National Public
Radio affiliate, since they didn’t have kids and wouldn’t
require the entire house. Their decision was a win for everybody since
folks in the Mendonoma area could finally hope to have access to some
of the same programs that people in the city enjoyed so much.
But, being a new station and still building a listener-subscriber-base,
KZBR couldn't afford to pay syndication fees for anything but three
essential NPR news shows; "All things Considered," "Morning
Edition," and the "Talk of the Nation." Most of the
broadcast day was filled with locally produced shows such as, "Word
Up” with Clive and Dirk --- two local, white, high school students
who played Gansta' Rap and affected hip-hop slang; "The Happy
Herbivore," a cooking show with Leticia Stein; and live broadcasts
of the Mendonoma town council, the Mendonoma High School PTA and the
Mendonoma School Board. But even so, KZBR lacked for programs to fill
out its twenty-four hour broadcast mandate.
Like most of the town, Jeannie Thimble was an avid listener to KZBR
and when, one night, she heard Darrell Lardner, the young station manager,
send out a plea to anyone wishing to try out as a volunteer program
host, Jeannie was moved to audition.
She’d visited the station on a field trip with her pre-school
students. She’d seen the electronics crammed into what had been
a back bedroom of the Pringle house. She’d seen (and had been
moved close to tears) at the sight of the sweet playhouse carved into
the living core of the giant redwood. She let herself imagine how it
might feel to spend a night tucked snugly into this mammoth wooden
heart; the sensitive tip of the crown more than two-hundred feet above
her, reacting to every breeze; its stately bulk tethered to the earth
through an enormous system of shallow roots keeping it firmly in place,
even during the strongest winds.
She had an idea for a late night interview show that focused on “new-age” sensibilities.
The hook (if Darrell and the Henderson’s OK'd it) would be to
broadcast live from the small room in the tree. She imagined that there
was enough room for herself and a guest. She wasn't sure exactly how
it would work, but she wanted to give it a shot. The next day after
school, she approached Darrell at the station and told him her idea.
She hadn't worked it all out, but she knew that there was something
powerful and right about it.
To her amazement, Darrell liked the concept. He checked with Henry
and Gail Henderson and they liked it, too. She could have two-nights
a week to start: 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM. They would rig a remote pickup
to the tree (less than twenty feet from the “station”)
and call the show “Heart to Heart with Jeannie Thimble.” The
program would be advertised as “Heart to Heart with Jeannie Thimble …brought
to you with love from the heart of a two thousand year-old first-growth
Redwood in Mendonoma, California.”
Jennie would have to arrange for her own guests and music. Larry Peoples,
the engineer, would be on duty to assure the quality of the transmission
and to get her on and off the air, but of necessity the show had to
be simple and without technological flourishes.
One week before her maiden broadcast, the station ran a series of promotional
spots that featured Jeannie inviting listeners to tune in for a unique
radio experience. She chose the music of New Age keyboardist, Salome,
to run behind the announcements.
In addition, Jeannie prepared a flyer on her computer and printed one
hundred copies. She distributed the flyers to the parents of her day-care
children and to the members of her drama group. She left some with
the Henderson’s who said he’d leave them on the table next
to the three straight-back chairs in the front room where their customers
waited. Jeannie gave the remaining flyers to the manager of the Mendonoma
Grocery. He divided them up between Lance, Michelle and Cricket, his
three checkers, who agreed to stuff them into their shopper’s
paper or plastic bags as they left the store.
She spent the week before her first broadcast choosing music, planning
the welcome and sign-off and arranging for guests. She worked hard
to shape what she thought of as the show's unique "sound." She
wanted it to be soulful. The tree setting would help. She wanted it
to be "open hearted"—a safe, secure place for listeners
to connect in the darkest hours of the night.
This was the winter of '98—a so-called, "El Nino" year.
This El Nino had been so hyped by the press that people had begun to
doubt its existence. But in March the weather system that had been
born the previous Christmas off the coast of Peru hit California full-force.
By the time Jeannie reached the studio and settled behind the bulbous,
black microphone, the tree swayed ever so slightly in the blustering
storm. The small electric heater at her feet warmed her and the tiny
room became exactly the snug harbor that she’d imagined.
She put on her earphones. She and Larry Peoples had gone over the procedure
several times. He would count down from five for her and when she heard, "go" she
would begin her broadcast.
" Five, four, three, two, one, go."
"
Welcome to ‘Heart to Heart with Jeannie Thimble.’ This
program is brought to you with love from the heart of a two thousand
year-old first-growth Redwood in Mendonoma, California. I am Jeannie
Thimble and for the next two-hours you and I will share the magic of
a live broadcast from deep inside this wonderful, Coast Redwood."
She explained to her listeners how the heart of the tree had been carved
into a playroom for the Pringle girls and now, still healthy and growing,
the tree was home to the tiny studio she was lucky enough to be able
to use for her broadcasts.
"
Tonight our program will be in two parts—first hour, I’ll
play some of my favorite new-age sounds. Hope you’ll like them
as much as I do. Then we’ll shift gears and have a "Heart
to Heart" interview with local artist, Greg Quimbly. Greg is known
throughout the west for his impassioned and sensitive jade carvings.
Greg’ll tell us about the many spiritual properties of jade and
how he learned to communicate so effectively with this amazing stone.
" Now sit back, take a deep breath, relax, and let's enjoy the mellow
sounds of 'Silver Grass.'"
Halfway through the first hour, Jennie began to enjoy herself. About
ten minutes before the start of the second hour, Greg Quimbly entered
the tree. He shucked off his yellow raincoat and took the seat that
Jeannie offered on the other side of the small table.
Although Jeannie had spoken to Greg Quimbly on the phone and had admired
his work in local gift stores, she hadn't met him in person. She introduced
herself and told him how much she respected the quality of his work.
Greg smiled through his thick beard and told her that he was looking
forward to the interview and that he really liked the vibes of the
small, tree room.
"
Pluto's Orbit" tinkled to a halt and through her earphones, Jennie
heard Larry tell her that it was time to introduce Greg.
"
You've been enjoying the ethereal sounds of 'Pluto's Orbit.' Their
latest album, "Mystic Journey" is available on the Cosmic
Label. It’s now my pleasure to welcome you to the second hour
of 'Heart to Heart' and our interview with jade artist, Greg Quimbly.
I've admired his work for several years. But if Greg is new to you,
let me tell you a little about him. Greg lives in Horicon. That's where
his studio is located and where he makes his home with his wife, April,
and his daughter, Laredo. Greg has worked exclusively in jade since
1972. Today, Greg's work is known all over the west. His specialty
is jewelry and small figures carved in classical and mythological shapes,
many of which he’s borrowed from the folk tales of Native Americans
and from the ancient cultures of China and Korea. I am thrilled to
introduce as my first guest on "Heart to Heart," Greg Quimbly.
" Thanks, Jeannie. It's a real pleasure to be here with you."
" The pleasure is ours, Greg. Coming out in the middle of this stormy
night is beyond the call."
" No problem. I'm always ready to talk about jade."
" Let's get right to it. Why don't you tell us how you got involved in
working with this special stone."
" I'd be happy to, Jeannie. I first got interested in jade back in the
early '70's. I'd seen the work of Chen Liu-Zheng from China at an exhibit
at the San Francisco Museum of Art and was so taken by it that it changed
my life. Under his hands, the jade came to life. He created shapes
that pulsed with meaning. I knew right then that I wanted to learn
to do that."
" Well, you certainly have. Your work speaks volumes."
" Thanks, Jeannie. I've tried hard to honor the traditions of Chen Liu-Zheng
and the lineage of great jade artists he represents."
" Greg, I know that you've brought some samples of your work. Would you
be willing to describe one of your pieces for our audience?"
"
Sure, Jeannie. Let me tell you about this one." Greg pulled an
object from a hard-sided case and unwrapped it from a flannel cocoon. "This
is what I call 'Phoenix Emerging.' It’s carved from a piece of
Burmese green jade and depicts the mythical Phoenix arising from the
base of the stone. The Phoenix has a long, delicate neck. I hope that
you can see in her eyes that she’s valiantly struggling to free
herself from the ashes that still cover most of her legs. The Phoenix
is a very important archetype in my work."
" Yes, Greg, her struggle really comes through. It's very powerful and
somehow honors the essence of the jade itself."
" You know jade has amazing powers to heal and teach and, Jeannie, every
piece has it's own story to tell. My job is to help the jade tell it.
That's what I try to do through my work."
" Well, I'm sure that you and I could talk all night, but I don't want
to keep you all to myself. I know that there are listeners out there
who can't wait to talk to you and learn more about jade and the secrets
that it holds for us. My Engineer, Larry tells me that we already have
our first caller holding on the line. Hello, caller? Welcome! You're
'Heart to Heart' with Jeannie Thimble and Greg Quimbly."
“ Yes. Hello? Am I on the air?”
“ Yes, caller. You are on the air and this is Jeannie Thimble. You are
Heart to Heart with Greg Quimbly.”
“
OK. Well, it’s like this, ma’am. My name’s Randy.
I’m a tribal elder up here at the ‘rez.’ Greg there
knows damn well who I am, don’t you Greg.”
“ Hello, Randy.”
“
Listen to me, you pond-scum sucking invertebrate. You know damn well
why I’m calling. Why don’t you tell the nice lady there
just how you wormed your way into my confidence and then, despite your
pledge of silence, went and used our sacred legends to inspire your
jade work and make you one rich man. I hope you rot in hell.”
“
Hello, Randy? This is Jeannie Thimble. I’m sure there must be
a simple misunderstanding here, something that can be cleared up if
only we open our hearts to each other. How about it, Greg? Randy?”
“
Sorry, Ms. Thimble.” It was Randy. “You seem like a sweet
lady, but I gotta tell you…the only thing I’ll ever open
to that forked-tongued som'bitch is a lawsuit. In fact, I was with
the tribe’s attorney all afternoon and guess what we talked about?
Look out, Quimbly. We’re on the warpath. Big time!”
The phone went dead.
“
Well audience, I’m sorry for that. It certainly wasn’t
what I expected from my first call. Let’s take a short break
and listen to ‘Black Hole in My Heart’ by the up-and-coming
group from Eureka, the Thomas Family.”
Jeannie excused herself and rushed over to the main office to use the
bathroom. She splashed water on her face to regain her composure. When
she returned to the tiny studio, she was ready to go again.
“
That was the Thomas Family with a cut from their first CD entitled, ‘Black
Hole in My Heart.’ The CD is called, ‘Space Grooves’ and
is available on the Three Springs label. Greg, are you ready to take
another call?”
“
Sure am, Jeannie. I’m not about to let old Randy there put a
damper on my evening.”
“
So glad to hear it, Greg. We’ll, Engineer Larry tells me we’re
ready to go. Caller? You’re on the air with Jeannie Thimble and
Greg Quimbly and we are ‘Heart to Heart.’”
" Hey, Jeannie? This is Chuck. Chuck, over in Covelo? Cool show, Jeannie."
" Thank you, Chuck. Do you have a comment or question for Greg Quimbly?
" Yeah, I sure do. Hey, Greg. How's it hangin' buddy?"
" Good Chuck."
" Cool. Hey man, here's the deal. I've been trying to polish me up some
local agate that me and my partner dug out of the hills over north
of Wyatt. Know where I mean?"
" I think so."
"
OK. Cool. Man, I gotta tell you that your work’s the bomb. I've
seen your stuff at the Sonoma County Fair and it's totally awesome."
" Thanks, Chuck. I'm pleased that you like it."
" Chuck, this is Jeannie Thimble. Do you have a question for our guest?"
" Oh, yeah. Sure. Like I told you, man, I been trying to polish this
agate? And I got me a used Briggs Polisher 310-A? But I've been having
all kinds of trouble with it. I can't seem to get enough RPMs out of
the sucker to really tackle the job. Waddayathink?"
"
Hmmm. You know, Chuck, the Briggs 310-A is a classic stone polisher.
I have two of ‘em myself and use ‘em regularly. Not only
on jade but on other stones."
"
So wadaryasayin’, man? You sayin’ it's me? Som’um
about the way I'm usin’ it?"
" Well, Chuck, I'd like to ask you try one little trick. Try working
with the 310-A on a 45-degree angle. You'll get much better results
than when you keep it flat on the table."
" Chuck? Greg? This is Jeannie Thimble. Hee Hee. I hate to break in,
but I think our listeners are anxious to learn about the spiritual
qualities of jade. Don't forget, our show is called 'Heart to Heart.'
Maybe we can save this technical stuff for another time."
" Sure Jeannie. But I'd like to try and help Chuck here out if I can.
Chuck, when you use the 310-A, are you really careful to dampen the
surface with a very thin coat of 10-40 oil?"
" Pretty careful Greg. You got any special way to get it spread evenly?"
" Actually, I do, Chuck. I use a Tupperware turkey baster, model TTB-26,
and drip the oil down the plate of the 310-A while it's rotating at
its lowest speed."
"
Hey, guy. I'll give ‘er a shot. You think that and the angle'll
make the difference?"
" Sure should, Chuck. Try it and let me know."
" Right, buddy. Hey, I got another one for you."
" Shoot"
"
Chuck…Greg…This is Jeannie Thimble…"
" Greg, I got me a Laserly 38X stone carving set for Christmas? The old
lady gifted me with it."
" Gee, Chuck, I wish you hadn't told me that."
" Yeah, I know. But I've gotta make the best of it."
" Chuck, the best thing for you to do in a case like this is to arrange
for the darn thing to be stolen and never recovered. All you're gonna
get out of the Laserly 38X is a pile of ruined gemstones and a broken
heart.”
" You da man! Much Grass, Amigo!"
“ Backatcha, dude. Jeannie? Shall we take another call?"
" Yes, Greg, let's. Engineer, Larry? Are we ready. He says we are. So,
hello, caller? This is Jeannie Thimble and we are Heart to Heart with
Greg Quimbly, noted jade artist."
" Uh, is this, uh, Jeannie Tremble?"
" This is Jeannie Thimble and you are on the air."
" Uh, Jeannie?"
" Please go ahead caller. Do you have a question for our guest, Greg
Quimbly?"
"
OK. So. Jeannie? I’m Mona? I live in Moonstone Bay? Me and Bob,
we manage the Beachcombers Trailer Park in Moonstone Bay? You can see
it if you look real hard off to the left just as you make that hairpin
north of the General Store? It's kinda hidden in the trees…"
" Mona? Do you have a question about the spiritual properties of jade
that you would like to put to our distinguished guest, Greg Quimbly?"
"
Umm Jeannie? Me and Bob? We been saving the shells that them abalone
divers bring up? We been saving 'em since we first started managing
the park back in '78? So believe you me, we got ourselves beau-coup
shells. We've lined all the driveways with ‘em and last year
we used ‘em to completely cover our trailer home? I tell you,
Jeannie, when that sunset hits them shells on the doublewide? You'd
think that Christ the almighty was on his way back to earth."
"
Mona, I'm sure it’s lovely, but do you a have question for our
guest?"
" OK. Yeah. Right. Umm here's the question. Sometimes? Me and Bob? We
see, like, Disney characters in the ab shells? Like your Mickey Mouse
or your Donald Duck? Over the years we seen every last one of your
Seven Dwarves!"
" And the question, Mona?"
"
Oh. Right…So Greg? When we see one of them cute Disney characters
in the shell, can you tell us how the heck we can like cut it out and
lacquer it up real good and mount it on a piece of plywood? We think
the Disney folks would be real taken by ‘em."
" Mona, this is Greg Quimbly. What a wonderful, original idea. You really
let the shells speak to you, don't you, Mona?"
" Oh yes sir. They surely do. Me and Bob, we love them shells."
"
Mona? Greg? This is Jeannie Thimble. I wonder if we shouldn’t
try for a caller who wants to talk about the subject at hand? I don't
mean to be abrupt, Mona but…"
" Actually, Jeannie, I'd sure like to take a whack at this if I might.
Mona? Your call reminds me of something the world-famous sculptor,
Michelangelo once said. The way to make a great statue is to get a
fine block of marble, study it until you see the figure hiding inside,
cut away everything that isn't part of that figure, and what's left
is the sculpture. Now it's gonna be a little different with an abalone
shell, but here's what you should do. Get a thin, black making pen
and use it to carefully trace the outline of the character you see.
Then, fit a number 003 blade to your jig saw and working very slowly
and carefully, start cutting around the black line."
" Greg, we ain't got no jig saw. How about a hacksaw? We got one of them."
" Mona, if you are very, very careful, it just might work. But go real
slow or your Mickey just might end the day as a Minnie, if you get
my drift. Now if you have to use a hacksaw, you'll want to get a Skipper-Jack
583 rat-tail file for the finish work around the corners."
" Hey, Greg. Can you hold on a minute? I gotta write all that down. YO,
BOB. BRING ME A PENCIL. I'M ON THE GOD-DAMM RADIO."
"
Greg, Mona, Engineer Larry? Let me take this opportunity to suggest
that we move on to another caller. The hour is just racing by and we
have yet to have our first "heart to heart" about setting
free the magic of the jade."
Mona returned to the phone.
“
It’s OK, now. I’ve got me a pencil. Tell me the name of
that tool you said?”
“
It’s a Skipper-Jack 583 rat-tail file.”
“ Can you spell that out for me?”
“ S-K-I-P-P-E-R-J-A-C-K-5-8-3-R-A-T-T-A-I-L-F-I-L-E.”
“
S-K-I-P-P-E-R-what’s the rest?”
“ J-A-C-K-5-8-3-R-A-T-T-A-I-L-F-I-L-E.”
“
Ok. I got the ‘J-A-C-K’ but what was that number again?”
Jeannie cut in, Her voice rising. “It’s a 583. 5-8-3. And
it’s an R-A-T-T-A-I-L-F-I-L-E. Thanks for your call, Mona. Good
night. Engineer Larry, next call, please! “Greg, we only have
a few minutes left. Let’s hope that our last caller makes good
use of your special talents.”
“
Let’s go for it, Jeannie.”
Engineer
Larry signaled to Jeannie that the last caller was now on the
line. “Hello, caller. You are on the air with Jeannie Thimble
and Greg Quimbly. We are ‘Heart to Heart.’”
“
Ummm. I’d like to like, talk to Greg?”
“ Caller,
you are on the air with Greg Quimbly. Greg can hear you. Go ahead.
Do you have a question?”
“
Yeah, but it’s like kinda private? So, umm, do you think like…you
know…you don’t have to, like, listen?”
“
Hello, caller?” This is Greg. Are you saying that you don’t
want Jeannie to listen to your question?”
“
Yeah, cuz it’s like, really personal. It’s just sort
of like, between dudes.”
“
Caller, this is Jeannie Thimble. Why don’t you just tell us
your first name?”
“
Whoa, man. No way. Then you’ll know who I am. But. OK. You can
call me like Seth. But like that’s
not my real name.”
“
OK, Seth. This is Jeannie. You know, Seth, this is a public radio show.
Many other people are out there listening to you as we speak…not
just me. Even if I don’t listen to your question, everyone else
will hear it. You sound young, Seth…seventeen? Eighteen? This
is a chance for you to open your heart to us. I’m
sure that anything a young man like you
has to say to our guest
will be accepted
without
judgment.”
“ Jeez, I hope so, cuz I really need to talk to Greg about my, like problem.”
“
Just go ahead, son. This is Greg Quimbly. What’s on your mind?”
“
Well…OK…Jeez, I’m not sure how to say it.”
“
Just tell us, son. Nobody’s gonna be bothered by what you say.”
“
Oh, man. Well, here goes. OK. See, every time I use my Geolimpia One
Thousand to buff my stones,
I get kinda…stimulated, if you know
what I mean. Sometimes, it’s
like the damn thing’s
gonna punch a hole right
through my Levi’s.
I mean like I’m kinda
proud of it and all that,
but I can’t help like
wonder if I’m
like some kind of freak or
something?”
“
Hey, son. So that’s what this is all about. Look, ‘Seth’.
Working with polished stones is a very sensual, dare I say, erotic
activity. The way they look? How they feel? I’d
say that most guys your age get turned
on working with rocks.”
“
Wow, Greg, so you mean I’m not the only one who, like, gets
all aroused around the stones?”
“ By no means, my young friend. By no means.”
“
Seth? Greg? This is Jeannie Thimble. I’m a little lost here with
all this male bonding. Let’s ask
Engineer Larry to provide a brief musical
break and
maybe this conversation
can be continued
off
the air.”
“ Jeannie, can we hold on here just one second? I believe that if one
person asks a question, there are probably
ten more who want to know but who are too shy to ask. Let me give Seth a
specific technique
that I know really works, from first-hand experience.”
“ Must you, Greg?”
“
Seth, one way to beat this is to always wear thin cotton gloves when
working stones. They’ll reduce the tactile sensations and help
keep things in check. But hey, the main thing, ‘Seth,’ is
to just stop worrying about it. Sure, you’re a horny young guy…but
you’re a perfectly normal horny young
guy!”
“Well, engineer Larry tells me we’ve run completely out of time.” Jeannie
sounded relieved. “That brings us to the end of our first edition of Heart
to Heart. I’d like to thank all our callers
and especially our special guest, Greg Quimbly. On
our next
show, we will
all have the
pleasure to talk
with the new-age zither sensation, Margo Smilla.”
And the hour ended.
Jeannie took off
her earphones
and apologized
to Greg.
She couldn't
account
for the oddness of
the calls, but she
appreciated
his
patience and tact.
She put on her yellow
rain
slicker, opened the
door to the
tree and she
and Greg stepped
out into the
fresh
night. The rain had
stopped. She went
into the main
studio and thanked
Larry Peoples.
Greg walked
her to her
car and she drove
straight to her brother's
house.
When
she opened the front door at Jake and Bess’s, the lights
blazed on: "Happy Birthday!!" It was, but she’d forgotten
in the excitement of planning for the show. She took in the scene.
Bess, Jake, her friends from the little theater and the day care center…they
were all there at this crazy hour. Even Jason. Over the fireplace,
a large, hand-lettered sign read:
Happy 30th, Jeannie! We All Love You!
Your family, friends, and especially your “callers”
Randy, Chuck, Mona, and Seth
It’d been Bess's idea. She’d arranged with Darrell to
let members of the little theater company call in. As a friend of Greg
Quimbly's, she'd gotten him to play along and agree to come back another
time for a “real” interview. Larry Peoples had alerted
the local callers to the joke and asked them to call next time.
Jeannie exploded with laughter. It started low in her belly and come
pouring joyously out of her mouth. For the first time in a long while,
she thought that maybe her luck wasn’t so bad after all.
